SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

,
PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES
OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE STATE OF THE NATION
ADDRESS AT PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, NAIROBI ON THURSDAY,
26TH MARCH, 2015

Mr. Deputy President,

Speakers of Parliament,
Members of Parliament,
The Chief Justice and Members of the Supreme Court,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Fellow Kenyans,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, for the second time, and in line with my constitutional obligation, I
address this special sitting of Parliament, to outline the State of the
Nation in relation to our values and principles of governance, as
elaborated in Article 10; the state of our nations security, as provided for
in Article 240; and our status in fulfilling our international treaty
obligations, under Article 132 of our constitution.

As we approach my second anniversary as President, I am pleased to

report that the state of our Nation is strong. Our economy is growing
robustly. Our nation is more secure, and our place in the community of
nations is respected.

In the year under review, we, as a nation, have continued to deepen our
democracy and the Rule of Law. Public participation in governance has
grown at all levels, while institutional measures to secure the basic rights
and freedoms of our people continue to take root. The year has been
laced with robust debates, and sometimes even strong differences of
opinion, between and within various levels and arms of government. This
is a profound reaffirmation of our democratic ideals.

Nonetheless, exercising these rights and privileges demands from each

one of us, particularly us leaders, to remain conscious of our patriotic
duty to nurture a united nation.

Fellow Kenyans,

In 2014, Kenya rebased its economy and is now the 9 th largest economy
on the African continent. With a GDP of USD 53.3 billion with GDP per
capita at USD 1,246, Kenya has attained middle-income status. We are
also one of the African economies that can boast a diversified and
balanced economy.

Today, Kenya is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Despite sluggish global growth, our economy is steadily expanding at 6
percent, consolidating our position as the largest non-mineral driven
economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are also making significant progress
in the oil, gas and minerals sectors. Following the establishment of a
dedicated mining ministry, our royalties have sharply increased from 21
million shillings in 2012, to an expected 1.2 billion this financial year. This
on-going economic transformation is drawing attention globally.

Last month, a prominent international publication singled Kenya out as

one of seven outstanding emerging markets worth investing in. Earlier
this month, of the 57 fastest-growing economies ranked by Bloomberg,
Kenya was the third fastest growing economy behind China and the
Philippines. Additionally, Ernst and Youngs Attractiveness Survey for
Africa for 2014 placed Kenya among the three top investment
destinations in Sub Saharan Africa, and the most preferred in East and
Central Africa. A combination of the governments pro-growth economic
policies, a growing middle class, and an educated and skilled workforce
has steered Kenya into the ranks of the top emerging market
destinations for investment.

Inflation has been contained at single digits, capping the prices of basic
goods for Kenyans. Interest rates are falling, allowing Kenyans to access
credit for their businesses, homes and farms. The exchange rate is stable

and the public debt sustainable, reflecting my administrations sound

fiscal and monetary management. Furthermore, the implementation of
programmes and projects that drive our growth are proceeding apace.

We have made significant progress in the energy sector. Since March

2013, we have added 514.9 megawatts of electricity to our national grid,
to make available a total of 2,125 megawatts. This represents a 31%
growth in total generation capacity. A substantial component of the new
additional capacity is geothermal, a clean energy source that increases
our resilience to the volatility associated with weather and oil prices.
Kenya is now the worlds eighth largest geo-thermal producer with a
steam power capacity of 579 megawatts. Notably, our power generation
mix is overwhelmingly green, positioning us among the global leaders
when it comes to the nexus between climate change and sustainable
development. This is especially appropriate given our hosting of the
United Nations Environment Programme, the worlds leading
environmental agency. I call upon all Kenyans to embrace the promise of
green energy for sustainable development.

Greater supply of electricity has translated into an average reduction in

consumer bills by 25% in the period between August 2014 and February
2015. Costs of electricity to industry have also fallen, making the country
a more competitive location for the manufacturing sector.

The total number of users connected to electricity grew by over 41%

between March 2013 and today, raising the customer base to 3,150,000
Kenyans. This translates to an increase in the national electrification rate
from 26% to 37%. In the last three months of this year alone, we have
connected 385,000 Kenyans and are targeting a record 1 million by the
end of December 2015, more than double the connections last year.

Across the country, businesses, large and small, are expanding, creating
employment and prosperity. As Government meets its end of the bargain
in providing cheaper power, it is my expectation that businesses will pass
on these savings to the Kenyan consumer.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When I took office, I pledged to connect all public primary schools to

electricity within two years. At the time, only 8,200 out of 21,500 schools
had been connected. As I speak today, a total of 18,424 schools have
been connected. The remaining 3,076 schools will be done by the end of
next month. Ladies and Gentlemen, in the last two years, more primary
schools have been connected to electricity than have been since
independence.

The provision of power further accelerates the already rapid penetration

of Internet connectivity, linking our people to knowledge and far-off
opportunities. A total of Kenya shillings 1.2 billion has been transferred to
21,458 schools for construction of ICT Hardware storage rooms, and
more than 2,500 teachers have undergone ICT training. This action will
provide a qualified workforce that guarantees the swift rollout of the
Laptop Project.

We continue to implement free primary school education, which offers a

ladder for our children to obtain employable skills and allow them to
become active citizens. To extend this fundamental promise of
opportunity to all, the Jubilee Government scrapped examination fees
and capped school fees for secondary schools. We have also increased
budgetary allocation from 30 billion shillings in 2013/14 to 40 billion this
year, with the objective of rolling out free and compulsory primary and
secondary school education in the next 5 years.

Kenya has migrated 70% of the areas previously covered by analogue TV

to digital TV broadcasting. Our target is to migrate the remaining 30% by
30th March 2015. Digital TV has made possible high quality television,
enabled more television channels, driven down the barriers to entry, and
created more entrepreneurial and employment opportunities from the
creation of local content. In line with this endeavour, we are extending
television broadcasting to parts of the country, which did not enjoy such
services previously.

In spite of this positive development, there are sustained persistent

claims that the governments insistence on maintaining the agreed and
court-endorsed migration has rolled back Kenyas democratic gains.
Nothing could be further from truth. All Kenyans should know that digital
migration will unleash the full potential of this medium, expanding the
scope of available information to the benefit of our democracy. The
misrepresentation to the contrary is irresponsible. It seeks to insulate
entrenched interests and close the door to the many Kenyans who will
benefit from an open arena. We as government are willing to work with
all stakeholders in the endeavour to grow a vibrant and prosperous
broadcasting sector. This experience underscores the importance of each
sector of our society, appreciating its cardinal responsibility to this
country and its people.

Kenyans should be proud of our global leadership in mobile money

transactions. In 2014, Kenyans exceeded 2.1 trillion shillings in mobile
money transactions. In all, Kenyans made almost 50% of global mobile
money transactions. These startling statistics, coupled with the total
number of mobile phones, exceeding one for every citizen, means that
Kenya is at the global frontier of mobile technology.

The construction of the Standard Gauge Railway is progressing according

to plan. Close to half of the 609 km track is excavated and ready for
sleepers. On completion, the new railway will dramatically reduce cargo
transport costs by a further 60%, and decongest our roads, leading to
greater road safety. The development of the SGR is an addition to the
substantial expansion and modernisation taking place at the port of
Mombasa, and that has led to a reduction in freight time by more than
75%. Further gains will be realised with the imminent completion of Berth
19 and the soon to commence Berth 20 and 21.

Fellow Kenyans,

For the last century, the current narrow-gauge railway has driven our
economy. The SGR will revolutionise our economy and position it to take
full advantage of the opportunities of the 21st century.

The LAPSSET Project is another significant investment by our nation. Just

like the Kenya-Uganda railway became the artery of the East African
economy, so will LAPSSET create a new economic and social reality. In
addition to opening up the northern part of Kenya to trade and
investment, it will contribute to securing what have been fragile, volatile
and insecure parts of our country. In doing this, LAPSSET will transform
the lives of millions of our compatriots, while creating an enabling
environment for northern Kenya to contribute strongly to national
prosperity.

Furthermore, LAPSSET will deepen regional integration and Africas

interconnectivity and trade. Recognising its value, the African Union, at
its January 2015 Summit, included LAPSSET in its Presidential
Infrastructure Champion Initiative.

The administrative infrastructure for this project is complete, and I will, in

the next few days, break ground for the construction of the initial three
berths of the Lamu Port.

To facilitate the expansion of the desired road network, my government

has resorted to an innovative model. The annuity-financing model will
help tap infrastructural financing.
This approach is expected to reduce our construction costs by half and
guarantee us an additional 10,000 kilometres of tarmacked roads within
the next 5 years.

Following the fire disaster of August 2013 at the Jomo Kenyatta

International Airport, which at the time seemed to spell doom, we have
recovered splendidly. Within ten days, all flights had resumed. By
November 2013, we had constructed a new arrivals hall, and by October
2014 had completed terminal 1A, which currently carries 80% of all
business at JKIA. In addition, last year, we commenced construction of a
new terminal that I expect to commission in the next few days. This
upgrade has placed JKIA in the top league internationally.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Even as we pay close attention to infrastructure, my administration has

also trained its attention on improving service provision to our people. In
the last year, we have sharply accelerated the quality and breadth of
public services.

Under the HUDUMA Kenya Programme we are delivering more than 35

services under one roof in twenty-three counties. By the end of this
financial year, we will have rolled out an additional 23 centres, bringing
the total to 41 Huduma Centres. This pioneering programme has
attracted numerous commendations including the 2015 winner of the
African Association of Public Administration and Management gold medal
on Innovative Management in Africa. A number of countries, both in
Africa and beyond, are working with our people to replicate this model.

Honourable Members,

Earlier this month, I launched the Integrated Population Register System.

The single source of truth on population identity. The system, which has
been tested for more than a year now, is a comprehensive database of
all registered persons residing in Kenya, both citizens and foreigners. The
value of the IPRS to planning, service delivery, business processing and
security, is revolutionary to not only government but to the banking,
telecoms, insurance and other sectors of our economy.

On this same platform, the e-Citizen Government Services Portal is

progressively migrating services online. These include the renewal of
driving licenses, business-name searches and registration of marriages,
passport applications, and official land searches in Nairobi.
Other
services will be coming on stream in the near future.

To attract greater domestic and international investment, my

administration, in collaboration with the private sector, has made a
concerted effort to improve the Business Regulatory Environment. These

efforts, added to the opportunities in our economy and region, are

leading to strong growth in Foreign and Domestic Direct Investment, and
therefore to jobs and growth.

In line with my administration's commitment to improve health care, we

have invested 38 billion shillings to roll out the Managed Equipment
Services Programme. To effect this, five global suppliers have assessed
94 hospitals in the 47 counties, plus the four national referral hospitals to
deliver the necessary equipment starting in May this year. This capacity
is the most sophisticated in the region, enabling access to world-class
diagnosis and treatment. Our emphasis is on early detection and
prevention, so as to avoid the high costs associated with treatment
occasioned by late detection. In these hospitals, the equipment
purchased will allow for treatment of diseases such as cancer, while
providing advanced dialysis, and intensive care facilities in all counties.

With the provision of free maternal hospital services, maternal health has
greatly improved. Deliveries in our public health facilities now average
80%. As a result, maternal mortality has decreased from 488 to 360
deaths per 100,000 live births. We have opened many clinics in slum
areas such as Mathare in Nairobi through which many Kenyans daily
access medical care. Our efforts in this sector are complemented by the
initiatives of the First Lady who I commend for the Beyond Zero
campaign, which keeps growing from strength to strength in improving
maternal and child health across the country.

All these endeavours are geared towards the Jubilee governments

commitment to roll out universal health care for all Kenyans. In this
respect, I wish to thank the Government of Japan and all development
partners who have extended support for this initiative. Beginning April of
this year, the new agreed National Health Insurance Fund rates will be in
force allowing for In- and Out-Patient treatment. To this end, I encourage
all Kenyans to enrol with the NHIF. This will ensure that our objective of
universal healthcare will be realised.

To promote social justice and inclusivity, my government is assisting

35,000 self-help groups and continues the promotion of social security to

the aged citizens and other vulnerable groups. The Older Persons Cash
Transfer Programme covers 164,000 households, cushioning them
against life-threatening risks such as sickness, poor health and injuries.
In addition, the government continues to fund the Orphaned and
Vulnerable Cash Transfer Programme, which currently covers 252,000
households and 27,000 persons with severe disabilities. We have also
launched the Health Insurance Subsidy Programme to cover 12,000
households. This programme, which targets the poor, has 30,000
principal beneficiaries registered by the National Health Insurance Fund.
The government has also established the Presidents Secondary Schools
Bursary Scheme, which benefits 13,050 orphans and vulnerable children.
Overall, close to half a million households are benefiting from the 25
billion shillings in these programmes.

We have made significant progress in land reform. The reorganisation

and clean-up of the Nairobi and Mombasa land registries is complete. We
have launched a new National Land Titling Centre, which has processed
close to 400,000 new title deeds, which have been issued. In digitising
the process of land ownership, the Nairobi Registry is now complete with
citizens able to conduct searches and payment of land rents online. The
digitising of the remaining 13 land registries will be complete by June
2015. We are clearly on track to fulfilling our Jubilee manifesto pledge of
issuing 3 million new title deeds by 2017.

Fellow Kenyans,

In the realm of international relations, for the first time in the history of
our nation, we have launched our foreign and diaspora policies, clarifying
our strategic objectives and the values that drive our engagement with
the rest of the world and Kenyans abroad respectively. Next week, we will
hold a Diaspora conference, to elaborate the role of Kenyans abroad in
contributing to the national aspiration for broad and inclusive
development.

At the bilateral level, we continue to strengthen our relations with

friendly nations. I have travelled to China, the United States, Japan and
across Africa, seeking new partners, and strengthen our strategic

partnerships. We have also opened a number of diplomatic missions,

signed a range of bilateral agreements. These efforts leveraged large
investment opportunities such as the Standard Gauge Railway, the Power
Africa Initiative, as well as opening new trade and investment
opportunities for Kenya.

Kenya remains a champion of economic integration. I had the privilege to

chair the East African Community last year. During that period, the region
deepened its integration and concluded a range of instruments to
enhance close economic, political and infrastructural development ties.
The biggest success has been the initiation and implementation of the
Single Customs Territory to facilitate cross border trade within the region.
As a result, it now takes three days for goods to transit from Mombasa to
Kampala, and four days to Kigali, down from 18 days and 20 days
respectively. Another key achievement is the elimination of work permits
fees; the launching of the single tourist visa; travel by identity card; onestop-border posts; establishing the one area network and thereby
reducing cost of cross-border communication in East Africa. These
measures strengthen the stability, resilience and economic opportunities
in our region.

We also remain a vital actor in the search for sustainable peace and
security in both Somalia and South Sudan, and are working with our
neighbours and allies to stabilise the Great Lakes Region.

At the continental level, Kenya is an anchor state in championing the

Africas agenda. In the aftermath of the Ebola epidemic, Kenya was
among the first responders, contributing 1 million US dollars and
hundreds of brave, highly qualified medical staff some of who are still
on the ground battling Ebola. We also took a leadership role in the
negotiations with the European Union that led to the successful
conclusion of the European Union Partnership Agreement.

Internationally, we have hosted several high profile events, reflecting the

growing stature of Nairobi as a global diplomatic hub where major
debates and decisions are made. Later this year, we will host the World
Trade Organisations Ministerial conference and have offered to host the

sixth Tokyo International Conference for Africas Development in 2016.

Kenya remains a champion of a rule-based multilateral system that
upholds the equality of states. To this end, we continue to lobby for the
reform of the United Nations system to reflect the democratic
imperatives of our age.

Honourable Members,

We continue with the robust implementation of the Constitution. In this

respect, Parliament, under its legislative agenda, has passed more than
two dozen laws. It is my trust that all fifth-year Schedule V legislation,
and the outstanding fourth-year legislation will be processed in time for
the August deadline.

Our strong commitment to devolution remains manifest. My

administration has funded counties progressively increasing from 190
billion shillings in the first financial year, 226 billion in the current
financial year, and projecting 258 billion shillings in the next financial
year, well beyond the 15% minimum provided for in the Constitution.
Demonstrating my continued belief in the value of devolution, we have
also established intergovernmental mechanisms to support devolution
through enhanced consultation, cooperation and partnership with the
counties. As a sign of the growing understanding and partnership
between national and county governments, I am pleased to report that
IBEC, under the chairmanship of the Deputy President, concluded an
early and harmonious settlement of the division of revenue negotiations.

As the chair of the Intergovernmental Summit, I am continuously

engaged with the county governments to ensure the success of the
devolution dream. In my travels across the country, I have taken pride in
the varied projects undertaken by county governments.

I am however concerned by the numerous disruptions of the devolution

agenda by political conflicts in a number of counties. This month, I
reluctantly established a commission to inquire into the affairs of
Makueni County. We have also witnessed intense contestation between

leaders in a number of other counties. In Narok, Embu, Mandera,

Marsabit and Tana River, among others, ethnicity is being used to
exclude, divide and manipulate the people. This trend, unless halted, has
the potential to derail the devolution agenda. The aspiration of the
Kenyan people was for grassroots development not for ethnic
balkanisation.

I therefore call on all leaders at the county level to be guided by these

aspirations and not their own narrow self-interest. We must all remember
that Kenya is one indivisible nation, and that every Kenyan has a right to
live, work and participate in all activities in any part of the country, as
guaranteed in our Constitution. In this regard, the National Cohesion and
Integration Commission must take seriously its mandate to promote and
protect the values of cohesion and devolution.

Fellow Kenyans,

I have since taking office, underscored the value of harnessing the

capabilities of all Kenyans. Only by doing this can we unleash the full
potential of our nation and create the Kenya of our dreams. In this
respect, my government has put special emphasis on the setting up of
mechanisms and institutions to guarantee inclusivity. Today, we celebrate
nearly 2 years of the Jubilee governments implementation of the Public
Procurement and Disposal Act Regulation passed in 2013 that provides
access to 30% of government procurement to women, youth and persons
with disabilities. This has translated concretely into a total of 9.4 Billion
shillings worth of contracts to these groups in the first 2 quarters of this
financial year. By the end of the year, these groups will have provided
government with goods and services amounting to 30 billion shillings.

As I have repeatedly emphasised, all procuring entities must comply fully

with this law.

In addition, we have also disbursed 5.3 billion shilling of the UWEZO

Fund. Our efforts have been lauded at the just concluded 59 th Session of
the Commission on the Status of Women as an innovative show-case of

gender responsive budgeting, and cited as a model that could be

exported to other countries in Africa and the Commonwealth.

The youth have continued to prove their capability to drive our growth
and progress. I have been delighted by the vibrancy of their innovation,
energy and commitment. From the innovators at i-Hub, Nailab and the 16
technology hubs, to Equity Banks Wings to Fly, Kenyas youth are
proving repeatedly that they are holding the present and future of our
nation in their hands. Kenya is becoming a start-up nation. In the last
year, we have witnessed the growth of homegrown technological
innovation of cutting edge global standards. Herein, lies an
unprecedented opportunity to leverage relevant technology to respond
to our needs, drive our economy, job market, and improve service
delivery.
I call upon all government ministries and agencies, and the private sector
to explore these home-grown innovations and to support these young
innovators before turning to solutions from abroad.

The National Youth Service has become a significant driver of my

transformation agenda. Working alongside communities, the NYS youth
have become change agents that catalyse improved living standards for
the less fortunate, particularly in informal settlements as demonstrated
in Kibera. Similar efforts are underway in Mathare, Korogocho, Mukuru
Kwa Njenga, and Kiandutu in Thika.

Beyond the cities, the NYS is also engaged in at-risk regions of the
country. For the first time, through the efforts of this institution, Lodwar
will soon have access to water on a sustainable basis, reflecting my
commitment to drive development across the country.

I encourage all young Kenyans to take full advantage of all government

programmes laid out to facilitate their productive integration into
national economic life.

In 2013, I appointed a Taskforce to review the operations of Parastatals

with the aim of reforming them to be more efficient in their pursuit of our

national development goals and to align their mandates to the

Constitution. The Taskforce made recommendations to transform our
Parastatals. The legal framework to guide the envisaged reforms has
undergone the requisite stakeholder consultations. Several pieces of
proposed legislation, including an overarching law on government-owned
entities, that align these institutions to our national development
imperatives, will shortly be forwarded to Parliament for consideration.

Yesterday, I issued, as part of the Parastatals reform programme, the

Mwongozo Code of Governance for State Corporations. I directed that all
vacant positions in the Boards be filled. I will personally oversee all
appointed and currently serving board members formally sign on to the
Code. This will address governance and management challenges in our
Parastatals.

Fellow Kenyans, Ladies and Gentlemen

I have outlined a number of initiatives that demonstrate the work that

the Jubilee government has done to drive the transformation of Kenya.
This progress notwithstanding, our country is today faced with a number
of daunting challenges that slow our progress, obscure our achievements
and chip away at the legitimacy of the state.

The most pressing of these challenges are insecurity, disunity and

corruption.

In the last year, security has improved. I salute the service and sacrifice
of our brave men and women in uniform who risk their lives to protect
our way of life. They are confronting, on our behalf, a range of security
threats. Foremost of these is global terrorism, as manifested in the threat
of Al Shabaab, who continue to operate largely from Somalia. The Kenya
Defence Forces, within the ambit of the African Union Mission in Somalia,
continue to dismantle the capability of Al Shabaab. However, this
terrorist group still poses a significant threat to Kenya, especially in light
of the long porous border with Somalia. We are also faced with a sharp
growth of radicalisation and violent extremism, threats associated with

youth that have returned from Somalia. Other international crimes that
threaten us include poaching, human trafficking, drug and narcotic
trafficking, and cyber crime.

In addition to these international crimes, most of which feed into the

funding and resourcing of terrorism and its agents, we are also faced with
the challenge of ethnic and inter-communal conflicts, sexual and gender
based violence, contraband and smuggling of goods. While we have had
a decline in traffic related crimes, there is need for focused attention to
reduce our road carnage, and the threats associated with the
proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

To counter these security challenges, the government implemented a

number of strategies including the setting up of an inter-agency
coordination unit; the enhancement of security vigilance; and community
sensitisation.

We continue to provide resources for the modernisation of the security

agencies. This year, we increased the police operational fleet by 1200
vehicles, bringing about a total of 2,400 vehicles made available in the
last two years more than has been provided since independence. We
have created a single command structure in counties that has improved
command and control. We have also gone a long way to improving our
investigative capacity by establishing a Forensic Lab which will be
equipped in the coming financial year. The improvement in our
Immigration Department is self-evident. The management of our entry
and exit, which have been vulnerable, is improving steadily. In the next
fortnight, Kenyans will be enabled to apply for their passports online, and
visitors will make online visa applications.

Although, we have faced a delay in the recruitment of 10,000 police

officers, following a court process, we are determined to complete this
recruitment before the end of the financial year. This is in line with my
administrations plan to increase the force by 10,000 recruits annually.

Further, legislative and policy initiatives over the last few months,

including an overhaul of our security framework through the Security

Laws (Amendment) Act 2014, and the adoption of a national counter
radicalisation strategy, have transformed the legal and policy landscape.
We now have a robust and far-reaching legal framework to counter the
current threats relating to terrorism. This will go a long way in
safeguarding the lives and property of Kenyans and our visitors. In this
respect, I wish to express my gratitude to this House for passing this
significant legislation.

These efforts have led to an increased tempo in operations. We are

detecting, disrupting and preventing attacks on our people and territory.

The recent appointment of new leadership in key strategic and

operational positions in a number of security organs offers an opportunity
to inject new ideas and drive that are much needed for the capacity and
morale of our personnel.

It is imperative that the synergy and improving performance emerging

from the security sector be sustained. The on-going police vetting
process has taken too long and is now having a negative impact on the
overall reform agenda in the police. It is leading to low morale, affecting
command and control and therefore our ability to provide security. For
these reasons, I call upon this House to urgently reflect on a more
effective way to vet in line with the objectives and spirit of the reform
process.

The state of the national economy, our public safety and security, and
our international standing depend fundamentally on our ability to secure
this nation on a sustainable basis. Our vigilance and efforts must,
therefore, remain strong. It is for this reason that I have put every
security organ on high alert and ensured substantial additional resources
to this sector.

I, in turn, expect a corresponding commitment by these agencies to

secure this nation. I also call upon every Kenyan to take up their civic
duty to cooperate with the security actors in the effort to secure our

motherland.

Fellow Kenyans,

Drawing on our history and recognising the dangers of disunity, our

Constitution in Article 10 spells out the value of national unity,
inclusiveness and cohesion as fundamental to our national character.

As heirs to a great freedom-fighting tradition, bearing the sacred trust of

past, present and future generations, we are called to observe and
realise these values.

We are grateful for the contribution of our forefathers who fought for
independence, many paying the ultimate price, and for those who have
led our nation for the last half-century. In that time, our economy has
grown; we have been an island of peace; a haven for refugees; and our
nationhood has acquired ever-deeper roots.

Our experience as a people over this time, however, is also laced with
moments of pain and suffering. We started our existence as a nation
seeking to establish our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In the course
of this struggle, lives were lost, property was destroyed and civilians
suffered.

To this day, we are still plagued by painful memories of unresolved

murders, the existence of torture chambers and detentions without trial;
events such as the Wagalla tragedy; and violence against the proponents
of expanding our democratic space; and all actions that have at times
failed to recognise the civil and human rights of Kenyas citizens. These
have shaken the nation, excluded some Kenyans from the full promise of
citizenship, and fractured our national fabric.

We have been witness to violence linked to elections, which has left

many Kenyans dead, maimed and dispossessed. In 2007-2008, this

reached its most tragic expression with the post-election violence that
left 1,300 Kenyans dead and more than 650,000 displaced from their
homes across the country.

Collectively, these incidents have disunited us and held our people

hostage to this tragic history by providing the foundation and rationale
for the cynical and destructive politics of hate and division.

In an effort to confront this past, the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation

Commission undertook an inquiry into past injustices. Their report is
before this House, and I urge Honourable members to process it without
undue delay.

My Fellow Compatriots,

The government has made efforts to relieve the plight of victims,

particularly those of the post-election violence of 2007-2008. While these
efforts have been lauded internationally, most recently by an African
Union report that recognised that Kenya has set a positive standard to be
emulated, I recognise that it is impossible to fully compensate for the
loss of life and the magnitude of suffering.

Yesterday, I received the Report on the 2007/2008 Post Election Violence

Related Cases from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A
copy of which is annexed to my report on national values. In all, there
were 6,000 reported cases and 4,575 files opened. It is the opinion of the
Director of Public Prosecutions that there are challenges to obtaining
successful prosecutions. These challenges range from inadequate
evidence, inability to identity perpetrators, witnesses fear of reprisals,
and the general lack of technical and forensic capacity at the time.
Nonetheless, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions recognises
there were victims and recommends that these cases be dealt with using
restorative approaches.

We must indeed recall our options are not limited to retributive justice.

There also exists the promise of restorative justice.

In many ways, Kenyans and humanity overall, have benefited from

restorative justice, an approach that is deeply rooted in our cultural and
historical realities, particularly when such conflicts have a communal and
political dimension. Many thousands of Kenyans have reached out to
reconcile with one another. My administration was forged from this
reconciliation, and is building on the efforts of the last government to
advance the resettlement, reconciliation and relief to internally displaced
people. I am committed to continuing these efforts as necessary.

Notwithstanding the recommendation of the TJRC report, I have

instructed the Treasury to establish a Fund of 10 billion shillings over the
next three years to be used for restorative justice. This will provide a
measure of relief and will underscore my governments goodwill. I have
also established a state department dedicated to strategic initiatives in
marginalised and at-risk regions and populations of our country. It is my
hope that these measures will go some way to bringing the nation
together, as we reach for the prosperity and security that is our common
promise.

Fellow Kenyans

The time has come to bring closure to this painful past. The time has
come to allow ourselves the full benefit of a cohesive, unified and
confident Kenya, as we claim our future.

My Brothers and Sisters

To move forward as one nation I stand before you today on my own

behalf, that of my government and all past governments, to offer the
sincere apology of the Government of the Republic of Kenya to all our
compatriots for all past wrongs.

I seek your forgiveness and may God give us the Grace to draw on the
lessons of this history to unite as a people and, together, to embrace our
future as one people and one nation.

In moving forward to complete the noble work of building our nation, we

are reminded of the fundamental principles upon which our prosperity
will be built. Our national anthem calls us to reflect on the power of
peace; to recall the supreme value of freedom; to believe, once more, in
the beauty of service and brotherhood; to aspire each day to the dignity
that results from hard work, and to contend for the hope that justice
brings.

Fellow Kenyans, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is no doubt that Kenya is firmly on the path of transformation.

However, my administration and this nation are confronted by both the
reality and perception of pervasive corruption. As I have stated
previously, and as warrants emphasis, corruption is the greatest threat to
our security, fundamental rights and social-economic transformation.

I share in the frustration of Kenyans at the slow pace and lack of results
from the mechanisms created to help us tackle with this monster.

When I spoke to the Nation on the eve of the New Year, I assured
Kenyans that in 2015, my administration will deal firmly with corruption.

I have continuously engaged with all institutions charged with the

responsibility to deal with corruption, and firmly expressed my
expectations, and the peoples desire, that their respective mandates are
executed robustly, urgently and without fear or favour.

I pledged my administrations full support, as well as my own personal

support, to any actions that will reverse the course of this cancer eating
at the soul of our motherland. Rather than unite against this common

enemy of our people, these institutions have elected to be mired in

personal and institutional conflicts that have chipped away at their
legitimacy and brought disrepute to the State.

From the commission charged with the responsibility in the fight against
corruption, Parliaments premier oversight committee, the corridors of
justice, and the security organs charged with the safety of this nation,
Kenyans are witness to the betrayal of their trust.

When our Treasury was processing our first sovereign bond, this country
was forced to settle a foreign court judgement to pay shadowy entities
1.4 billion Kenya shillings. When I addressed the nation on this matter, I
pledged that my government would do everything in its power to ensure
that we recover all that was due to the Republic. From that moment, I
took a personal interest and asked to be briefed on a regular basis of the
progress on Anglo Leasing related investigations. My administration also
supported the investigating authorities in obtaining support from a
number of friendly foreign governments.

These investigations bore fruit. However, obstacles have appeared

threatening the prosecution of the perpetrators. The Ethics and Anti
Corruption Commission is now embroiled in infighting and finger-pointing,
a state of affairs likely to cripple the investigative capacity of the
institution with the likely outcome of subverting the course of justice.
From reports I have received, I strongly believe that this is a further
attempt to subvert the successful prosecution of the Anglo Leasing
cases.

As I have indicated, constitutional officer holders, State Officers and

every public servant, are bound by the values enshrined in our
Constitution. They are required to uphold the highest standards of
personal integrity in the discharge of their official functions.

In view of the oath of office that I took as the President of this republic,
let it be known that today I draw the line. No one will stand between
Kenyans and what is right in the fight against corruption and other

monstrous economic crimes.

I have asked the Attorney General to liaise with the Council on

Administration of Justice to focus on coordination within the Justice, Law
and Order sector. The Council must ensure the efficient and speedy
processing of corruption-related cases, including hearing such cases on a
daily basis.

I direct the Attorney General to review the legislative and policy

framework to ensure the effective discharge of Constitutional imperatives
related to integrity.

Three weeks ago, I issued Executive Order Number Six (6) on Ethics and
Integrity in the Public Service. In it, I directed any civil servants to get in
touch with my Office should they receive any pressure to engage in
unethical or illegal conduct regardless of the status of person pressuring
them to do so. I want to reiterate this personal commitment, which is
also provided for in the Constitution.

The latest report I have received from the Ethics and Anti Corruption
Commission contains a catalogue of allegations of high-level corruption
touching on all arms and levels of Government. It is the view of the CEO
of the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission that the institution and
especially its Secretariat are under siege because of the nature of the
cases they are currently investigating. I know that Parliament is seized of
this matter and urge them to deal with it expeditiously.
a) Today, I take the extra-ordinary step of attaching the aforementioned confidential report from the CEO of the Ethics and Anti
Corruption Commission as an annex to my annual report on Values
to Parliament.
b) Consequently, I hereby direct that all Officials of the National and
County governments that are adversely mentioned in this report,
whether you are a Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, or Chief
Executive of a state institution, to immediately step aside pending
conclusion of the investigations of the allegations against them. I
expect the other arms of Government, namely the Legislature and

the Judiciary, to do the same.

c) The investigating authority must ensure that the Director of Public
Prosecutions has received the subject files without delay.
d) I also want to caution that this should not be an open-ended
process, justice must be expeditious, as justice delayed is justice
denied. Therefore, this exercise should be concluded within the next
60 days.
e) Let me reiterate that it is not my place to determine the guilt or
otherwise of any of the people mentioned in the said report or any
other. However, the time has come to send a strong signal to the
country that my administration will accept nothing less than the
highest standard of integrity from those that hold high office.

Honourable Members,

In view of Parliaments oversight role, and its representation of the

people, I would be remiss not to express the disquiet caused by recent
events that cast aspersions on Parliament. As a previous Member, I urge
you, Honourable Members, to take all measures to urgently restore the
dignity and integrity of Parliament. This is essential for an institution
whose effective performance is a cornerstone of our democracy.

The war on corruption will not be won unless all arms and levels of
government play their role and uphold the highest levels of integrity and
act decisively against any perpetrator of corruption.

Fellow Kenyans,

There is no challenge, no obstacle that is too great for us to overcome.

An indomitable Kenyan spirit has seen this Nation secure its freedom and
grow from small beginnings to become a vibrant democratic and
multicultural society that is on an unstoppable path towards even greater
progress and prosperity, as well as standing bold and strong in the face
of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

My administration will continue to personify this indomitable Kenyan

spirit. Our commitment to Kenya remains the same: to bring about
fundamental positive change in all areas of our national life, in a
sustainable and irreversible manner, across the length and breadth of the
entire Country, without regard to gender, age, religion, colour or
ethnicity.

Our Beloved Nation is well on the path to greater heights. Through our
collective effort, our democracy is growing and maturing while our
fundamental rights and freedoms are entrenched and safe. The social,
economic, and political gains that have been made are cemented and
are now irreversible. While a lot of hard work still remains to be done we
have a lot to be proud of, a lot to be grateful for.

Honourable Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The state of the Nation is strong. Let the love for our Country be our
guiding light in all that we do. God bless you and God Bless Kenya.

It is now my pleasure to submit to Parliament, the Annual Report on the

State of National Security and the Report on Measures Taken and
Progress Achieved in the Realisation of the National Values; and to the
National Assembly, the report on the Progress Made in Fulfilling our
International Obligations.